Election Rumors Clarified

Apr

Election Rumors Clarified

Posted by GSDispatch Editor in by Jennifer Warren, by Phil Kloster, GSD Online

Rumors fly quickly after a tightly contested election as was the case in Greenwood this week. The purpose of this column is to dispel some myths and clarify the process for area voters.

The numbers currently being reported are unofficial and will not be certified until late Thursday, April 15th.
Write-in misspelling judgments are not determined by the Election Board but rather the City Clerk with the assistance of the City Attorney. (See APPENDIX for Jackson County’s Unofficial Write In results)
Election officials ARE supposed to tear off the top of the ballot for write-in votes. There are 3 sections of the ballot. The very top portion will not fit through the machine and is supposed to be removed. The next section contains write-in information and should not be removed. The election board knows about 2 such ballots at this time and will be adjusting the count appropriately.
In the race for Mayor, there appears to be 22 unknown votes. There were some ballots on which voters abstained from voting for mayor, which may explain 22 mystery votes.
Chris Seagraves unofficially lost to Mark Dziezdic 120-123 but there are also seven write-in votes which contain variations of Seagraves’ misspellings.
The Election Board is currently verifying Greenwood votes. They wouldn’t call it a “recount” but they did indicate they are scrutinizing the ballots to ensure Greenwood has an accurate count.
Greenwood is a class 4 city. Class 4 cities cannot recall a vote.

If you feel that your ballot may have been handled differently than described above, please contact the Jackson County Election Board at 816-325-4500 and file a complaint.

Therefore, Greenwood’s new Aldermen are unofficially Al Reynolds and Nic Cover. The margin of victory for each was significant and unlikely to be changed. Seagraves will likely be awarded the win over Mark Dziedzic by the City Clerk. He needs to be given 4 of the 7 misspellings. The Greenwood Mayor will likely be Marvin Megee. His margin of victory was 21 votes. There are 22 votes unaccounted for, 2 of which the election board currently confirms may have been handled inconsistently. The election board also indicated there were some mayoral abstentions, which also confirms Megee is likely the new Greenwood Mayor for the next two years.

Despite the concerns with regards to the apparent discrepancy in which the write-in ballots were processed, Write-in Mayoral Candidate Leah Foster said that after the votes are certified on April 15th, “win or lose… it’s been a good fight and I just want the outcome to be fair.”

Write-In Candidate for Alderman Ward II, Chris Seagraves said his biggest concern is not which mis-spellings of he and Foster’s names should count as votes for them, but “with the lack of community participation…” Regardless who is going to be responsible for leading the community, not even half of the registered voters participated.” He went on to say, “I was at the Ward 2 polls from 5:30 am – 7:00 pm. I saw every person that walked in the doors. More importantly, I didn’t see a lot of the people and families that I know personally.”

Greenwood has been plagued with poor community participation in municipal elections for the past several years. This year our un-certified voter turn-out is 723, admittedly an improvement over last year’s turnout of 575 voters – but still dismally low. Seagraves said, “It was great to meet a lot of first time voters, they seemed to take a lot of pride in what they were doing.” But then asked, “When did we as adults lose that pride and sense of responsibility?” When indeed?

As it’s been said before and a lot of folks agree — if you did not take the time to vote, you gave up your right to complain.

tagged: Aldermen, candidates, greenwood, Jackson County, write-in

Db Cooper

More people would vote if they would do away with electionairing at the polls.
Db Cooper

More people would vote if they would do away with electionairing at the polls.
http://greensummitdispatch.com/ GSDispatch Editor

DB: You really believe that to be true? I think more people would vote if there were less apathy.
:GSDispatch Editor via Berry’patch. †
GSDispatch Editor

DB: You really believe that to be true? I think more people would vote if there were less apathy.
:GSDispatch Editor via Berry’patch. †
GENE D

Chris Seagraves is absolutely right about Greenwood voters. Many of us have said many times before that apathy will destroy this little town. Small voter participation may have done Greenwood in this time. It all hinges on Nic Cover and whoever the new Alderman is from Ward II whether we go back to the days when quarry and other outside interests ruled our town.

While walking my neighborhood for Mark Dziedzic, I met a neighbor who had served in Iraq in both Gulf wars. We talked about the apathy of the American people as a whole. He was in Iraq when the Iraqis got to vote for their new government after the U.S. invasion and defeat of that country. He said he was there when people lined up for blocks to cast their vote even though they knew the risks that they might die in a terrorist attack against voters. He said that 98% of the Iraqis who could vote did vote. Then he compared that to the votes cast here and in the U.S. as a whole, about 30%. He knows the importance of voter participation. If you don’t vote, you are part of the problems that come your way.

Last year, a Martin Marietta Materials employee was elected to our BOA by 6 votes. In cooperation with Sara Ring, he prevented the appointment of a person to replace Denise Simpson who resigned shortly after the firing of Ryan Hunt. For the rest of the year, the board, with only three active members could be prevented from holding meetings by the absence of any one of them. Ring missed several meeting and so did Van Acker. Each time that happened, city business was put on hold. When Ring and Van Acker tried to push through the appointment of one of their allies to a position on the Planning and Zoning Commission, Jim Payne would walk out, thereby ending the meeting. That was the only tool he had to oppose the Ring/Van Acker coalition.
GENE D

Chris Seagraves is absolutely right about Greenwood voters. Many of us have said many times before that apathy will destroy this little town. Small voter participation may have done Greenwood in this time. It all hinges on Nic Cover and whoever the new Alderman is from Ward II whether we go back to the days when quarry and other outside interests ruled our town.

While walking my neighborhood for Mark Dziedzic, I met a neighbor who had served in Iraq in both Gulf wars. We talked about the apathy of the American people as a whole. He was in Iraq when the Iraqis got to vote for their new government after the U.S. invasion and defeat of that country. He said he was there when people lined up for blocks to cast their vote even though they knew the risks that they might die in a terrorist attack against voters. He said that 98% of the Iraqis who could vote did vote. Then he compared that to the votes cast here and in the U.S. as a whole, about 30%. He knows the importance of voter participation. If you don’t vote, you are part of the problems that come your way.

Last year, a Martin Marietta Materials employee was elected to our BOA by 6 votes. In cooperation with Sara Ring, he prevented the appointment of a person to replace Denise Simpson who resigned shortly after the firing of Ryan Hunt. For the rest of the year, the board, with only three active members could be prevented from holding meetings by the absence of any one of them. Ring missed several meeting and so did Van Acker. Each time that happened, city business was put on hold. When Ring and Van Acker tried to push through the appointment of one of their allies to a position on the Planning and Zoning Commission, Jim Payne would walk out, thereby ending the meeting. That was the only tool he had to oppose the Ring/Van Acker coalition.
GENE D

This was probably the most important election that Greenwood will ever have. If our new board serves the outside interests as did the Ring machine, then we should all be thinking about packing up and moving to a more civilized community. If Nic Cover, a new resident with very little knowledge of Greenwood history, can learn the community and serve its citizens, this election may not have been a total disaster. If Chris Seagraves wins in his race, he will have to man up or sell out to the Ring machine. I have to wonder if he has the stamina to work for Greenwood citizens in the face of the constant onslaught against any board member who does. As for Marvin Megee, I guess winning depends on who puts out the most signs. I do not believe that voters knew enough about him to cast a vote for him. I believe that, Leah was the best qualified and capable of the two candidates and this city would have been far better off with her as our Mayor. We may have just turned the corner back to the days when Kevin Adey was an embarrassment to our town.
GENE D

This was probably the most important election that Greenwood will ever have. If our new board serves the outside interests as did the Ring machine, then we should all be thinking about packing up and moving to a more civilized community. If Nic Cover, a new resident with very little knowledge of Greenwood history, can learn the community and serve its citizens, this election may not have been a total disaster. If Chris Seagraves wins in his race, he will have to man up or sell out to the Ring machine. I have to wonder if he has the stamina to work for Greenwood citizens in the face of the constant onslaught against any board member who does. As for Marvin Megee, I guess winning depends on who puts out the most signs. I do not believe that voters knew enough about him to cast a vote for him. I believe that, Leah was the best qualified and capable of the two candidates and this city would have been far better off with her as our Mayor. We may have just turned the corner back to the days when Kevin Adey was an embarrassment to our town.
Db Cooper

I have planted 88 trees in Greenwood in the past two weeks. It will be a pleasure to watch them grow over the decades. While planting the trees there is a certain excitment in the air. People are excited about spring, and this new start. But there seem a few people that are angry, angry at the low voter turn out. Actually, it was a huge voter turn out. Look at the large percentage increase of voters over the years past. Apathy, or Greenshoots? Those new voters are kinda like my trees. They will be there for years to come, and will grow if cared for. Many Many of those voters are going to show up at city hall for the swear in…MANY.. In fact It is said, OVER 100 PEOPLE… I ask my self, what is this? A revolution? No. It is a LOVEALUTION. Its real, a little water, a little care.. wow. Peace and love. What a concept. Not Me, but We. This town is gonna be jammed packed! Join in, your welcomed..:) !
Db Cooper

I have planted 88 trees in Greenwood in the past two weeks. It will be a pleasure to watch them grow over the decades. While planting the trees there is a certain excitment in the air. People are excited about spring, and this new start. But there seem a few people that are angry, angry at the low voter turn out. Actually, it was a huge voter turn out. Look at the large percentage increase of voters over the years past. Apathy, or Greenshoots? Those new voters are kinda like my trees. They will be there for years to come, and will grow if cared for. Many Many of those voters are going to show up at city hall for the swear in…MANY.. In fact It is said, OVER 100 PEOPLE… I ask my self, what is this? A revolution? No. It is a LOVEALUTION. Its real, a little water, a little care.. wow. Peace and love. What a concept. Not Me, but We. This town is gonna be jammed packed! Join in, your welcomed..:) !
Db Cooper

I think everyone in town cares. There is a “buzz” about new laws doing away with electionairing.
Db Cooper

I think everyone in town cares. There is a “buzz” about new laws doing away with electionairing.
Matt

“When did we as adults lose that pride and sense of responsibility?”

On the local level, it was when city hall turned into an episode of Jerry Springer. Everyone lies about what they stand for and turn the meetings into fights. Who would be proud of that?
Matt

“When did we as adults lose that pride and sense of responsibility?”

On the local level, it was when city hall turned into an episode of Jerry Springer. Everyone lies about what they stand for and turn the meetings into fights. Who would be proud of that?
GSDispatch Editor

Nice analogy, DB.

17Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. 1 Corinthians 7:17 (NIV).

Essentially, we are all called to “bloom where we are planted”.
GSDispatch Editor

Nice analogy, DB.

17Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. 1 Corinthians 7:17 (NIV).

Essentially, we are all called to “bloom where we are planted”.
Phil Kloster

We’ve just turned over 4 of the 5 contributors to that situation so hopefully some pride can be restored.
Phil Kloster

We’ve just turned over 4 of the 5 contributors to that situation so hopefully some pride can be restored.
Db Cooper

Amen.
Db Cooper

Amen.

Election Rumors Clarified

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